SR1347 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1347 LRB100 18556 ALS 33775 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur, who passed away on January 14, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Judge Shadur was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, one of four brothers; he finished high school in Milwaukee at the age of 15; at 18, he graduated from the University of Chicago with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics; he went on to serve as a radar officer in the United States Navy during World War II and eventually earned the rank of lieutenant; while on leave, he was introduced to a friend's cousin, Eleanor, and they later married; and

WHEREAS, After his military service, Judge Shadur returned to the University of Chicago and earned a law degree; after a long career in private practice, he was nominated to the bench by then-President Jimmy Carter in 1980; and

WHEREAS, Judge Shadur oversaw the court-ordered desegregation plan for Chicago Public Schools; during the 1980s, he also approved a consent decree that ordered the county to improve conditions at the Cook County Jail and called for the release of prisoners to curtail severe overcrowding; he was among the first federal judges to explicitly acknowledge abuse by the Chicago Police; he continued to oversee significant litigation, including a class-action lawsuit filed by the Chicago Teachers Union against the Chicago Public Schools; and

WHEREAS, Judge Shadur devoted his life to upholding justice, to his country, and to his family; in his 37 years on the bench, he was known as a titan of fairness and decency; he will long be remembered for his sharp legal mind, independence, integrity, and passion for his wife and family, the law, and the Northern District of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Judge Shadur was preceded in death by by his daughter, Karen; and

WHEREAS, Judge Shadur is survived by his wife of 72 years, Eleanor; his daughter, Beth; his son, Robert; his three grandchildren; and his four great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Judge Shadur as an expression of our deepest sympathy.